Hi Greg,
Great articles on long pips!
My question has to do with handling the smash/kill stroke. What is/are the optimum long pip (lp) method(s) to employ for close to the table lp users with grippy lp rubber?
I haven't had enough lp experience yet to devise my own effective return stroke as I only come up against this in tournaments at the deep end of the field. Too late!
I am a 1500 level player. I have no practice opportunities against this stroke as my local club players don't have the capability.
Anxiously awaiting your reply as a couple of important tournaments are coming up.
Cheers eh?
Barry
Canada
It's a tough shot to handle at close range, no doubt about it. Usually the problem is the extreme pace of the ball causing you to overshoot the table with your own return. Unless you've got a completely dead rubber and a slow blade which makes it a lot easier, you have to try to absorb some of the pace of the ball yourself.
This means basically relaxing your grip to absorb some pace, and even pulling back with your bat a little as the ball is about to hit it, instead of going forward to hit the ball. Resist the temptation to try to hit the ball back hard at your opponent, and focus on going soft. Sliding a little under the ball can also help, since the bending of the pimples will help convert some of the pace of your opponent into spin, slowing the ball down a bit more and making it easier to land on the table. Going diagonally to give yourself some more table to work with won't hurt either when you're desperate!
There's no simple magic bullet to solve this problem, other than not giving your opponent the chance to blast the ball at you in the first place! But the tips above are what I use when I'm caught at the table and I need to block with my grippy long pips.
Hope this helps,
Greg
